Multi-purpose container and diffuser device



May 27, 1958 c. B. WENNER 2,336,452

MULTI-PURPOSE CONTAINER AND DIFFUSER DEVICE Filed NOV. 13, 1956 INVENTOR CHARLES E. WENNER ATTORNEY United States PatentO MULTI-PURPOSE CONTAINER AND DIFFUSER DEVICE Charles B. Wanner, Darien, Conn., assignor to A rkem, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 13, 1956, Serial No. 621,586

Claims. (Cl. 299-24) This invention relates to combination container and diffuser devices for volatilizable materials, such as air freshening agents and the like. More particularly the invention relates to combination container and diifuser devices of the class described having multipurpose characteristics adapting same for several difierent types of use.

Regarded in certain of its broader aspects the combination container and difiuser device in accordance with the present invention comprises a cylindrical container part having substantially greater diameter than height, a cover part rotatably interfitting with the upper edge of said container part, a plurality of circumferentially spaced cut-outs in overlapping portions of said container and cover adapted to be rotatably moved from fully registering to fully non-registering alignment in providing for the circulation and non-circulation respectively of air through said container, cooperating means on said container and cover stopping relative rotation therebetween when said cut-outs are in fully non-registering position, and means comprising a restricted area of thin walled rupturable structure in at least one of said container and cover parts adapting said device to a secondary manner of use.

In prior Patents No. 2,603,532 dated July 15, 1952 and No. 2,657,090 dated October 27, 1953 issued to applicants assignee, there are disclosed therein difiuser devices embodying overlapping circumferential ports having cut-outs which in relative rotation thereof provide for the opening and closing of vapor passages. Patent No. 2,603,532 relates in particular to combination vapor difiuser and ashtray, Whereas Patent No. 2,657,090 relates in particular to combination diffuser device and article supporting base.

The multi-purpose container and diifuser device in accordance with the present invention can be utilized in conjunction with devices disclosed in the above mentioned patents, but can also be utilized in various Ways which are impossible with the previously patented devices. The various uses of the new multi-purpose device can be summarized as follows:

a. Mean be used essentially as a shipping container for insertion, after removal of the cover, in a device of the type disclosed in said prior patents.

'b. It can be used in conjunction with devices of said prior patents without removing the cover, but with rotary adjustment of the cover providing a secondary control of air circulation therethrough.

c. It .can be utilized as a difliuser device complete in itself for resting, in use, on any horizontal surface.

d. It can be utilized as a diflfuser device complete in itself for hanging against a wall or other vertical support by rupturing a weakened portion provided in the base or container part to provide engagement with hook means, or the like, on the vertical support.

e. By rupturing a weakened portion in the cover part and coupling a flexible tube, or the like, therewith, the

2,835,462 Patented May 27, 1958 ice device can be used for the forced circulation of air through the container in contact with volatilizable material therein. In such use, which may be in association with air circulating or air conditioning means, the circulation of the air can be provided either by forced circulation of air to the container, or by suction, causing air at an accelerated rate to be drawn into the container through the circumferential ports or apertures.

The structure of my improved device will be readily apparent from the accompanying drawing illustrating preferred adaptations thereof with various parts of the device identified by suitable reference characters in each of the views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the device showing the peripheral apertures in a partially open' position;

Fig. 2 is a partial plan view of the assembled device with part of the structure broken away and in section;

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 with the parts in exploded relation to better bring out the detail thereof; and

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 indicating a modified form of rupturable means in the cover part.

As shown in the drawing, the combination container and difiuser device comprises a container part 10 having a peripheral side wall 11 and bottom wall 12 and an interfitting cover 13 having a top wall 14 and a peripheral flange 15. The upper edge 11a of the peripheral wall ll (note in Figs. 1 and 4) is substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall 12 to provide close rotatable engagement with the flange 15 of the cover part, while the remainder of the peripheral wall 11 can be tapered slightly as seen in Fig. 4 to facilitate molding of the device. in this connection, it should be noted that the device can be fashioned from various materials, including metals and plastics, but is preferably molded from a plastic, such as polystyrene.

The peripheral flange 15 of the cover part is provided with a plurality of uniformly spaced cut-outs 16 which; are somewhat shorter than the portions of the flange 15 therebetwcen and the upper portion 11a of the container part is provided with an equal number of cut-outs 17,- the cut-outs 17 being of the same length as the cut-outs 16 so that when the container and cover parts are rotated i one with respect to the other, the cut-outs 16 and 17 can be brought to coinciding position forming a plurality of ports or apertures for the passage of air and volatilizable' air treating agents and the like. Since the solid portions between the cut-outs 16 and 17 respectively are wider than said cut-outs, it will be evident that in certain positions of rotary adjustment the cut-outs of one part will be completely blocked by the solid peripheral portions of the other part, thereby closing the ports or apertures. Between the'fully closed and fully open positions, any degree of partial opening of the ports or apertures can be provided by the relative rotation of the container and cover parts.

The inner surface of the peripheral wall 11 of the container part is provided at one point, and preferably: in two .diametrically opposed positions, with inwardly extending stop means or'rib 18 adjacent the right-hand end of a cut-out 17, as seen in plan view. The cover part is provided on the inner surface of the top wall 14, and slightly spaced inwardly from the flange 15, with a downward protrusion or stop means 19 which is located adjacent the left-hand end of the cut-out 16 as seen in plan view through the top thereof, (note Fig. 2 of the drawing). This arrangement of the stop means 18 and 19 permits the cover to be relatively rotated in a clockwise direction with respect to the container part, or assembled with the container and so rotated, to a stop position which. automatically aligns the cut-outsin each part with the solid portions of the opposing part to thereby close all of the circumferential ports. It will be evident that while a single stop means of the type above described is sufiicient to provide this result, the presence of two such stop means at diametrically opposed positions enables one using or assembling the device to adjust the same to the fully closed position by a single and natural manipulationof the hands.

As shown inFig. l of the drawing, the top Wall 14 of the coverpart is provided with an outwardly extending tubular extension 20 terminating in a thin walled rupturable part 21 extending across the tubular extension. The rupturable part 21 can be either an'integrally molded part of the cover, or can be a separate part adhesively orotherwise secured to the tubular extension 20 providing the primary function of closing the end of the tubular extension 20 during the initial shipping and storing of the container when filled with air treating material. When the thin walled rupturable part 21 is removed or ruptured, a flexible tube 22 can be applied to the tubular extension 20 and connected with a suitable source of air under pressure, or to a reduced pressure system. When air under pressure is passed through the tube 22', 'a mixture of air and air freshening material'within the container will pass outwardly through the peripheral apertures of the device, whereas if the tube 22 is part .of a reduced pressure or vacuum system, then fresh air will be drawn inwardly through the peripheral aperture and 'a mixture of the air with air freshening material will pass through the tube 22.

' Fig. 5 of the drawing illustrates a certain modified form" of construction in which the, outwardly extending tubular part 20 is replaced by an inwardly: extending annular protrusion 23 which isinitially closed 'by a thin walled rupturable or removable diaphragm 24. When the diaphragm 24 is removed or ruptured, a tube 25 having' spaced annular beads 26, 27 atthe end thereof extends through the aperture thus formed in the top wall 14 of the cover part for firm interlocking engagement therewith. The't'ube 25 can be coupled witha high pressure or low pressure system and function in the same manner as previously described in connection with the tube 22'. I 7

In the bottom wall 12 of the container part, as clearly Various air. treating agents and other volatilizable materials can be packaged directly in the container part and in this connection, the device is particularly suited for the packaging of volatilizable air treating material comprising a liquid medium substantially solidified by means of a gelling agent as disclosed, for example, in

United States Patent N'df2l69116l5 dated October 12,

Various changes and tnodifications in the construction as herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the art and to the extent that such changes and modifications are embraced by the appended claims, it is to beunderstood that they constitute part of my invention. p a

I claim:

1. A combination "container anddifiuser device comprising an open top cylindrical container part having a substantially greater diameter than height, the upper peripheral edge of said container part including a narrow band of cylindrical. exterior curvature, a cover part having a peripheral flange of cylindrical internal curvature rotatably and telescopically interfitting with said narrow band of the container part the narrow band portion of said container and the flange of said cover having a plurality of circumferentially spaced cut-outs adapted to berotatably moved from fully registering to' fully non-registering'alignment in providing for the circulation and non-circulation respectively of; air. through 7 said containen cooperating meanson an :inner side wall of. said container and on: the inner top. surface of said cover stopping relativeniovement therebetween when said cut-outs are in fully non-registeringposition, and means comprising. arestricted area of thin walled rupturable structure in at. least one of said container and cover parts adaptingsaid device to a secondary manner of. use.

2. A combination containenand. diffuser device as defined in claim .1 wherein the container part has in the bottom wall thereof a thin walled rupturable area form-- ing when ruptured a keyhole type opening to facilitate the vertical suspension ,of said device.

3. A combination container and dittuser device as defined in claim 1 wherein the cover part has substantially centrally thereof a thin walled rupturable. area, and circumferential means adjacent thereto providing; when said area is ruptured, for engagement. of a flexible V tubular" member with said cover part.

shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, there is provided.

a restricted area of general keyhole contour as indicated at" 28 of thin walled structure forming a rupturable diaphragm 29 and preferably surrounded by a slight reinforcing rib as will be seen in Fig. 3 of the drawing When the diaphragm 29 is ruptured, it will 'be evident that the aperture of the key-hole contour 28 thus formed provides means for hanging the device against a vertical support by means of a hook, nail, or the like.

4. A combination container and difiu'ser device. as defined in claim 3 wherein the tube engaging means circumferentiallyof said thin walled area protrudes out. wardly from said cover and the thin walled; area is at the outer extremity of said tube engaging means. 7

5. A combination container and difiuser device'as 1 defined in claim 3 wherein said tube engaging means pro The provision of the rupturable portion 28 in the bottom wall of the container part is applicable both to devices having the conversion means forcoupling the tube 22 or 25 therewith and devices in, which the cover part.

is of uniform contour having no rupturable means therein.

It will be noted, however, that the form of construction ,air circulation and, with rupturing ofthe diaphragm 24,

asa difiuserfor forced circulation. V

trudes inwardly of said cover part andthe thin walled rupturable area" is substantially co-extensive with the outer'surface of said cover part. a

' References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain 29, 1940 J 

